Words of Jesus Part 58

John 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

No doubt Jesus explained to Lazarus, Mary and Martha what was to befall Him shortly. He told His own disciples as much; so I believe these knew what was going to occur as well. They may have doubted or closed their minds to the reality of His coming death but it seems here as if Mary believed Him totally and decided to anoint Him ahead of time for His coming burial.

John 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

I confess that I have said as much at times when I see money wasted or when I see so many living in luxury from the labor of the gospel while some barely make ends meet. I don't believe the Lord is excusing the merchandising of the gospel that is going on in these times by His statements here or else it would contradict the words He spoke when He removed the money changers from the temple.

This money used to buy the ointment was from the household of Mary and she was not spending money given for the purpose of spreading the gospel. She was performing an act of love by her own expense. Judas' objection was not out of concern for the poor but he was greedy and would have preferred that Mary gave the amount it cost to purchase the ointment into the treasury which he was in charge of instead of spending it on ointment.

John 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

We are to help the poor at every opportunity. Jesus was not making light of helping the poor for He gave a whole sermon on it in Matthew 25.

John 12:9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

We see here the true motive of the hatred of the religious Jews and Pharisees. They were not concerned about the true Messiah and His being the Son of God. Their hold and influence on the people was being threatened.

This is the actual cause of much persecution come to think of it. Persecution comes from either governments or religious leaders fearing the loss of their authority and standing with society when a new teaching comes along.

A true believer should not be taken in the same fear. We should always remember that greater is He that is in true believers than he that is in the world. I know we should be concerned about false teachers, cults and those that control people by deceit, but we have to warn, preach, testify, pray and tell the truth without allowing bitterness, hurt and jealousy to overtake us. After we do what we can, we leave the rest to the Lord. We don't have to use force, intimidation and harm those that oppose us. This is the mistake so many make. It is not we they oppose, but the Lord. We teach and preach but the Lord saves and changes the heart.

Never should a true child of God use force, torture, mental cruelty, imprisonment and other methods of the world to convert anyone to the cause of Christ. The only way for anyone to be saved from sin is by God's spirit. This is done by God and cannot be forced in any way by the works of men.

If we remember this is God's work and not our own, we can leave the results to Him and the judgment to Him.

John 12:12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

All these happened to fulfill Old Testament scripture.

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Having more than one writer or witness confirms the word to be from God.

John 12:16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

And He could have taken over the world and become king then and there. He had the power but that would leave the kingdom of God limited to one country and one race of people. That would leave our sins remaining and there would be no eternal life.

A sacrifice had to be made for sin. There was no other way to undo The curse of sin brought upon the world when Adam disobeyed God in the beginning. A man brought sin into the world and a sinless pure man had to reverse it. Jesus the Son of God became a human man to do just that. Jesus had to die for our sins first before becoming a king who reigns over the earth. He will return to rule as king when our work is finished and the gospel is preached into the entire world.

John 12:20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

This should be our desire when we attend church or any place of worship. We should go to hear and seek Jesus.

I wonder how some of us would react if after we have a church service someone would come to us and ask to see Jesus. By seeing of course they mean to hear of or to find Jesus as Lord. Are we still preaching the gospel to save the lost?

John 12:22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

The seeds we plant in the ground to grow food are actually dried up and dead when we plant them.

If the seed would remain on the plant and not fall to the ground, it would not bring forth fruit. Jesus was emphasizing the reason for His coming death, burial and resurrection. By this shall He bear much fruit and enable many to saved from sin inheriting eternal life afterwards.

John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

If we hold onto our lives here and work only for what we see, we will eventually lose it and eternal life also. If we forsake in our hearts and minds our lives here and turn it completely to God we will receive eternal life.

This is part of repenting of sin. When we truly repent of sin, we renounce it or turn from it allowing Jesus to take our sins away and free us from the penalty that sin brings. The penalty of sin is death eternally in hell. To hold onto this life and prefer it to living for Jesus is to lose our souls for eternity. If we turn away from our life in the world and receive Christ as Lord, we inherit eternal life.

John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.

We become servants of Christ, we will live where He lives and be with Him. Sin can't enter that place so the sin must be forsaken and under the blood of Jesus. This is why Jesus had to die for sins.

John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

This is why He came. He did not fail. He came for a purpose and fulfilled that purpose.

John 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spoke to him.

Another vocal witness to the presence of God in the life of Jesus.

John 12:30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

The victory over all sin and the powers of darkness began at the crucifixion and is being fulfilled every time the gospel is preached the someone is being "born again" by the spirit of God. It will be fulfilled in its entirety at the return of Jesus Christ.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

There is no other way to be saved other than faith in Jesus Christ.

John 12:34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

Here is the verses referring to the everlasting Christ or Messiah.

Psalm 89:29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

Over and over we see the Old Testament writers speaking of the Messiah, the Christ, we now know as Jesus.

Psalm 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus' priesthood will be forever.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

The final king of all mankind is this man called Jesus or in Hebrew the name is Yeshua.

Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

So we see from the Old Testament that Christ was to abide forever. This caused them to doubt Jesus as Christ because He spoke of His death.

They didn't understand two separate comings or two reasons for Christ's coming. They didn't see it as a sacrifice for sin, a resurrection and a return to Heaven until the gospel is preached to all nations. They did not understand that a way to remove sin had to be made before a perfect kingdom of Christ could be set up.

The kingdom of God is now within each and every believer until the time when the literally setting up of the kingdom occurs at the Second coming of Jesus Christ. This is not done by man, the plans of man or even by true believers. Setting up the kingdom is done by Jesus Christ at His visible return.

John 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

They stumbled because they were expecting a great military leader and not a savior. They would walk in darkness when He left the world because they did not believe in the light while He was with them. Those that believe in Jesus do not walk in darkness even after His return to His Father in Heaven.

John 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Old Testament prophecy:

Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Even now we see the majority miss this good way of salvation.

John 12:39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Their rejection of the gospel is what caused the gospel to be given to the Gentiles.

Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

We see in the world today the reverse is happening and the gospel will return to Israel.

John 12:41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

We find that in some of us today. When we are with unbelievers do we hide our faith and show it openly only among those of the same faith?

This is not acceptable though for Jesus said.

Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Boldy proclaim that wonderful name, the name of Jesus the everlasting Son of God.

John 12:44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

All the words of Jesus will come back and bring judgment upon us if we reject them. Now is the time to believe, now is the time to receive the word of God and be saved.

To reject Jesus Christ is the reject the only way of salvation God made for mankind to escape hell and have eternal life. This is a promise to all who would receive and believe in the Son. He that has the Son has life and He that has not the Son will not see life but the wrath of God rests upon him or her.

John 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

If we reject His representative (Jesus), we reject God Himself.

Words of Jesus Part 59

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